of minneapolis



M. J. BELL.

DISPLAY RACK-- APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, m6.

Patented July 1, 1919.

Z Illllm "'IIIII UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

MARK J. BELL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR 'IO LEO SHAPIRO &COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A. CORPORATION OFMINNESOTA.

msi naY-nnox.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK J. BELL, a citi zen of the UnitedStates,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of.Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDisplay- Racks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention has for its object to provide an extremely simple, cheapand highly efiicient display rack especially adapted for holding a packor group of parcels or articles on a show case or counter in compactform but in full view of purchasers. To such ends, generally stated, theinvention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described and defined in the claim.

The improved rack may be cheaply made from a singlepiece of quite heavyand quite stiff spring wire bent into a sort of multiplex U-formation.This rack is of such form that when viewed from either side, it has 7 arectangular U-formation and has a relatively low front portion andrelatively high rear portion. Both the front and rear portions of therack are of inverted rectangular U-formation and the ends of the wireare brought together in the cross bar of the relatively high backportion of the rack. These ends of the wire are covered, alined andrigidly connected by interlocking engagement with a folded metalcoupling plate or clip, the upwardly projecting blades of which afford aholder for a price card.

The device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views. Referringto the drawings;

Figure 1 is an isometric view showing the rack loaded with goods;

rack;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the loaded rack illustrating the action ofthe hand thereon in lifting the same;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing the upper rearportion of the rack and the combined coupling and card holder; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the empty I Patented July 1, 1919.

Application filed November 24, 1916. Serial No. 133,160.

The Wire from which the rack is made is is, as already stated, amultiplex rectangular U-shaped formation. The parallel lower portions,of course, are adapted to rest upon the counter, show case, or the like.All of the upright members of the rack are parallel, or substantially,so that rectangular, parcels or articles are adaptedtobe closely fittedbetween the front and rear loops, or inverted U-shaped portions. Theback loop is made materially higher than the front loop for severalimportant reasons. In the first place, it permits the goods or articlesto be held and displayed therein, to be piled higher at the rear than atthe front, with the ornamental or advertising faces of the large numberof articles exposed to the customer, and in the second place, affordsanelevated support at the rear for the price card holder.

As stated, the ends of the wire are brought together in the cross bar ofthe rear loop (see particularly Fig. I). At points near the ends, thesaid wire is formed with swagedout or upset lock lugs 7 that engage inclosely fitting seats or perforations 8 formed in one side of a foldedmetal coupling plate 9, the sleeve-1ike portion of which ispressedtightly against the alined ends of the said wire. The edge portions ofthis folded plate 9 are upwardly extended, and preferably given slightflare, so as to afford frictional clamping plates 10adapted tofrictionally grip and hold the price card at 11.

In Fig. 1, the articles 02, such as chocolate bars, or the likeare shownas placed within the rack, while in Fig. 3, small rectangular articles,such as five cent candy boxes, for example, are shown as placed. withinthe rack. In either instance, or for that matter, with the rack loadedwith any articles, it is adapted to be picked up by applying the hand tothe cross bars of the front and rear loops of the rack. As shown, inFig. 3, andeven if'the rack should be slightly tilted sidewise.

This rack, While it affords a very efficient support, covers but verylittle of the goods or articles held in the rack, and hence, of

course, leaves the same with the ornamental labels, and advert1s1ngmatter, in full View. 'Ilher'e'1s,-of course, scarcely any limit to thekindsof articles ordevioes that maybe advantageously displayed in andsold from these racks applied to show cases and-counters in full View ofthe purchaser. It makes possible a displayof a large line of goods vupin sealed or coveredpackages and sold for five or ten cents, or at somesuch small price.

Copies ofthis patent may beobtained'ior What I claim is:

The combination with two alined members to be connected; of aplatefoldedupon itselfto afford a longitudinally divided coupling sleeve toreceive the abutting ends of the members, the end portions of the plateoutward of the sleeves being in diverging relationto afford a holder,each of saidmembers having a lug interlocked with a seat in the couplingsleeve to hold the members against axial separation and also to hold thecoupling sleeve against rotation onthe members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARK- J. BELL.

Witnesses:

C ARA DEMAREST, F. D. MERCHANT.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,I). G.

